Staff and Leadership

Staff

Ryan Spooner, M.Div.

Lead Pastor

Ryan is from Connecticut and a UConn alum. Before coming to serve as pastor of St. Paul's Church in March 2016, he worked in full-time campus ministry with Cru and as a worship leader for the Tabernacle ministry at Trinity Covenant Church in Manchester, CT. He has a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, which he completed in December 2015.

Ryan has a heart for helping others to see how Jesus reveals the character of God and addresses the most important questions we have about life. He wants to see minds renewed and lives transformed as people encounter the truth expressed in Scripture.

Some of his favorite things include playing guitar, running, hiking, geocaching, watching good movies, reading good books, coffee, spicy food, and long conversations about mystery and paradox.

Keith Anderson

Associate Pastor

Originally from New Jersey, Keith graduated from La Salle University. He worked briefly with the Cleveland Browns before moving to Connecticut in 2005 to be the video director for the UConn Women’s Basketball team. He also spent three years as the video coordinator for the Olympic gold medal-winning USA Women's Basketball team. In 2014, Keith joined the staff at St. Paul’s.

Keith enjoys the process of seeing a first time guest of St. Paul’s become a fully involved member of the community. He finds joy in connecting people to their passions and assisting them in finding the purposes God has for their lives.

Keith and his wife live in Tolland with their two children. Some of his favorite things in life include hiking/backpacking, landscaping, listening to music, coffee, coaching little league, and being a husband and dad.

Steve Bell

Director of Worship

Although born in Pennsylvania, Steve lived all the important years in Connecticut. A carpenter by trade, he and Laurie live in Eastford in a 1796 home. Married for 33 years, they have two grown children who seem to regard them with inordinate affection.

If all art is our attempt to express the inexpressible, then music is one of the ways we express our gratitude and devotion to God. In everything we are called to excellence and our worship should reflect the gifts, beauty, and delight God has bestowed upon us.

Interests include Laurie, old houses, old guitars, old Harleys, hearing people’s stories, and dark, bitter coffee. In addition to leading worship, Steve has been the guitar player and frontman for a local blues trio for 26 years.

Bethany Donaldson

Director of Children's Ministry

Bethany is a native of Connecticut. She and her husband live in Coventry with their four children. She is a SAHM and homeschools her kids. Prior to motherhood she graduated from UConn with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Relations. She worked several years as a Social Worker.

Bethany is passionate about bringing God's word to children. It is her desire that they learn of God's love for them at a young age and that they will go on to tell others.

Some of her hobbies are working out, cleaning, researching homeschool curriculum and health and wellness; she lives a very adventurous life! :)

Caleb Redfern

Director of Technology

After spending a childhood in the southern portion of New Hampshire, Caleb moved to Connecticut in 2006,and has lived here ever since. He is a full-time student at CCSU, studying Mechanical Engineering, having graduated with an Associate's Degree in Engineering Science from Manchester Community College in 2013.

Caleb focuses on helping others during a Sunday service in order to ensure everything ties together smoothly. By taking care of the behind-the-scenes aspect of a service, he helps to create and foster an environment where people are comfortable worshipping, listening, and encountering God.

A few of his favorite activities include computer programming, reading books, playing Minecraft, learning to cook, and helping build CCSU's FSAE race car.